I look at Zeb. They must have made quite the pair, I think, as Patrick comes to stand in front of him. Dark and light. The devil and the angel. I look at Patrick and mentally shake my head. No angel, this. His full mouth has a discontented pull to it, and he looks as if he could succumb to petulance at any minute. He looks spoilt and expensive.

“Zeb,” he says, his voice low and intimate. “You came. I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Of course,” Zeb says abruptly. “You invited me, didn’t you, and I replied yes. That is the normal way things happen.”

I bite my lip to prevent a smile as Patrick looks slightly askance. “Well, I’m glad you’re here,” he says quickly. He looks Zeb up and down and something kindles in his eyes. “Very glad.”

I shift my position, and both men start as if woken from a deep sleep and turn to face me. “Oh, Jesse,” Zeb says, sounding surprised and making me want to punch him. “Pat, this is Jesse.”

“Jesse? Do I know that name?” he says thoughtfully. Zeb stiffens, but Patrick shakes his head. “Sounds a bit like someone from a Bon Jovi song.”

“Rather than someone from an Irish folk song,” I say very sweetly, holding my hand out and forcing him to shake it. His grip is loose and disinterested, and he drops my hand quickly and turns back to Zeb.

“I didn’t realise you were bringing anyone.”

“The invitation said guest,” Zeb says coolly. “And Jesse is my guest.”

Patrick eyes me coldly before turning back to Zeb. “I’ll have to ask at the desk for them to prepare another room. We only asked for the one. You’ve got a lovely suite. I picked it out specially. It looks out over the lake with a balcony.” He winks. “Remember it?”

Zeb stiffens, and I instantly know they’ve stayed in it before.

“Sounds lovely,” I say happily and slide my arm around Zeb’s waist. His muscles are rigid under my fingers, and I pinch him lightly. He starts imperceptibly and, obeying his cue, he slides his arm over my shoulders. “I’m sure we’ll be very happy there. A balcony, eh?” I say, nudging him. “Oh, the things we can do on a balcony, lover.” His eye twitches slightly, and he shoots me a quick warning glance that makes me laugh.